A small quantity: some is available
A few and a little report a small quantity. They do not guarantee that it is sufficient: We have a little money, but not enough.
The difference concerns the noun type, not how small the quantity is. A few goes with people, things or events counted as separate units: a few books, a few friends. A little goes with an uncountable amount: a little water, a little time.
I've got a few questions before we start.
I've got a few questions before we start.
Questions can be counted individually, so use a few.
There's a little space on the shelf for your books.
There's a little space on the shelf for your books.
Space is uncountable here, so use a little.
Form: countable and uncountable nouns
A stated countable noun after a few takes the plural: a few tickets, a few days. If the noun is already understood, A few can stand alone as a short answer.
After a little, the noun has an uncountable meaning: a little sugar, a little courage, a little rain. Do not add -s to mark quantity here.
A common error is to mismatch the forms: a little tickets and a few sugar do not work in these meanings because the quantifier does not match the noun type.
a few + plural countable noun | a little + uncountable noun with singular agreement
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
We need a few chairs for the extra guests.
We need a few chairs for the extra guests.
Chairs is countable and plural.
Add a little butter before you fry the onions.
Add a little butter before you fry the onions.
Butter is uncountable.
The main contrast: with and without a
A few and a little focus on the fact that some quantity exists. Few and little without a emphasise its limited size and often suggest a shortage. This is a difference in presentation, not a compulsory judgement of good or bad.
I know a few people here focuses on having some acquaintances. I know few people here emphasises the small number. The second sentence does not, by itself, prove that the speaker is unhappy.
The same contrast applies to uncountable nouns: a little hope emphasises that some hope remains, while little hope emphasises how scarce it is.
Luckily, we still have a few options left.
Luckily, we still have a few options left.
The tone is positive: some options remain.
Unfortunately, we have few options left.
Unfortunately, we have few options left.
The tone is negative: very few options remain.
Statements, questions and polite requests
In ordinary affirmative sentences, a few and a little simply report the presence of a small quantity: I bought a few apples; There’s a little juice left.
For an ordinary request, you can say Could you bring me a little ice? or Can you lend me a few euros? You are requesting a small quantity, so retain a.
A few and a little can also appear in questions. For an ordinary negative quantity statement, not many / not much is often preferred. Other constructions are possible but may change the emphasis. Do not choose solely from the presence of a question mark or negation.
Could you spare a little time this afternoon?
Could you spare a little time this afternoon?
A polite request with a little.
Do you have a few minutes for a quick call?
Do you have a few minutes for a quick call?
A polite request using a few.
Boundaries and exceptions
Quite a few is an established expression meaning a fairly large number. Learn it as a whole: quite changes the quantity expressed.
Do not mix the quantity patterns: a few little sugar is incorrect because sugar is uncountable here. However, a few little boxes is correct: few gives the number and little describes the boxes’ small size.
Conversation often uses not many / not much to describe a limited quantity. Few / little without a can sound more restrained or formal. Both approaches are possible.
Keep two questions separate: what noun type do you have, and what emphasis on quantity do you want? The whole situation determines whether the quantity is sufficient.
Quite a few guests stayed until midnight.
Quite a few guests stayed until midnight.
The established expression quite a few means a fairly large number, unlike the basic small-number meaning of a few.
I have a little money saved, but not much.
I have a little money saved, but not much.
Not much clarifies the limited amount here; it does not replace a little.
Using the forms in conversation
These words can present a small quantity neutrally or emphasise its scarcity. The evaluation depends on the content: few problems may be good news, while a few problems may be unwelcome.
First identify countability. Then decide whether you are simply reporting some small quantity or emphasising how little there is. If sufficiency matters, explicitly add enough.
We've still got a little daylight left, so let's keep walking.
We've still got a little daylight left, so let's keep walking.
A positive, practical conversational tone.
Careful — there's little daylight left, so we should head back now.
Careful — there's little daylight left, so we should head back now.
An expression of caution using little without a.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I have a little colleagues from my last job.
Correct:I have a few colleagues from my last job.
Colleagues is a plural countable noun, so use a few, not a little.
Incorrect:She gave me a few advice about the new role.
Correct:She gave me a little advice about the new role.
Advice is uncountable in this meaning and has no ordinary plural form, so use a little.
Incorrect:I read a few of book last month.
Correct:I read a few books last month.
Use a few directly before the ordinary plural noun books. A few of + singular book does not work here.
Incorrect:I have a few little money for the trip.
Correct:I have a little money for the trip.
Money is uncountable here, so a small amount is a little money. Do not combine a few with this meaning.
Incorrect:A few of my classmates is joining the trip.
Correct:A few of my classmates are joining the trip.
The subject refers to plural classmates, so the verb is are, not is.